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P. M. FELTHAM.

A DANGER SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED AUG.23', I9I9 RENEVIED MAY 8| |920 fatemi aan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Arronfrs BERCY M. ELTHAM, oF EDGEFIELD, SOUTH CAROLINAwv 1. runnin: a5 DANGER-SIGNAL.

Specic'tion of Lefters Patent. f Patented Jah. 4,

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la :n n: l n www fe i nu Lf! center of the devlce srhowlng one form of hovuslngg l. ,l f e -1 U if: 'r' L uw? wenn" je, Iemol `thereof, parts bemg the hmfsieg ma extends;'efltirelyimage the ro/dfarlfd yhas itsop'frfee.'normally dsposed above the surface offthe rod. Se-

cured, in the mls fefum'fhousmg emex- 100 Y tendrlg'yetrely between Sadjv'alls fare a plurality off, horzontlly .dlslploSed 1921111526 whlohfeorlbtte Stop imeyrnbers. Thege stopr members e`r7e to rrre'sp"che downward inoifelheztbf tbehflotig platform andere 105y disposed it such distlce below the` sur-4 face of the road as to cause the top surface of the floating platform to be absolutely flush with the surface of the road when further downward movement of the platform has been prevented.

In this connection it is to be noted the flanges 25 of the channel iron rest against these bars when the downward movement has been arrested and in this manner they serve to positively support the platform. A gong 27 is secured by a suitable bracket to either or both pairs of standards and a clapper 28 adapted to sound the gong is pivoted toa shaft 29 and an arm 30 of the clapper extends downwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, and is engaged by the underside of the top surface of the platform. l

The channel iron constituting the floating platform being suspended and counterweighted as shown and described, is normally disposed or normally floats slightly above the level of the road. In this normal position of the channel member the depending flanges thereof are adjacent the walls of the housing and in this manner the platform is constrained to substantially vertical movement. When a vehicle passes, the wheels thereof striking the bevel surface of the tilting platform depress the platform until the flanges rest upon the bars 26. The downward movement of the platform by virtue of the engagement of the end of the platform with the arm of the clapper actuates the clapper to sound the gong 27 and so give warning to the driver of the proximity of the danger.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of the drain in the housing below the tilting platform or signal actuating means. Devices of this kind are exposed to the weather and all action of the elements and accumulations of sand, ice, snow, clay or the like have in all devices previously proposed served to clog the operating parts thereof and greatly impair, if not prevent, eicient operation of the signal. In the present invention any such foreign substance finding its way between the tilting platform and the walls of the housing will under the influence of gravity or under the influence of the action of the platform be conveyed to the interior of the housing and the bottom portion thereof acting as a drain will serve to collect and carry away these foreign substances.

Another important feature to be noted is that the platform being floated and evenly balanced is very sensitive and yielding and when actuated by the slight initial pressure of the walls of the vehicle presents a surface flush with the surface of the road and so does not impair the evenness of the surface of the road or present any obstruction likely to cause discomfort to the occupants of the-vehicle and additional wear on the vehicle. In this connection it is to be observed that the channel iron is shaped to conform to the surface of the road.

1. A danger signal comprising signaling means consisting of a gong and a clapper therefor, means for actuating said clapper, adapted to be operated by the vehicle, consisting of an inverted channel bar arranged for vertical movement in the roadway, a housing for said inverted channel bar and means for normally maintaining said channel bar floating slightly above the surface of said roadway consisting of vertical standards arranged at each side of the road, bellcrank-levers pivoted to said standards, links connecting one arm of said bell-crank-lever with said channel bar and a counter-weight on the other arm of said bell-crank-lever.

2. A danger signal comprising signaling means consisting of a gong and a clapper therefor, means for actuating said clapper, adapted to be operated by the vehicle, consisting of an inverted channel bar arranged for vertical movement in the roadway, a housing for said inverted channel bar, means for normally maintaining said channel bar floating slightly above the surface of said roadway consisting of vertical standards arranged at each side of the road, bellcrank-levers pivoted to said standards, links connecting one arm of said bell-crank-lever with said channel bar, a counterweight on the other arm of said bell-crank-lever and means for arresting the downward vertical movement of the channel bar when its top surface is flush with the surface of the roadway, said means consisting of horizontally disposed bars adapted to support said channel bar.

3. A danger signal comprising signaling means, means for actuating said signaling means adapted to be operated by the vehicle, consisting of an inverted channel bar arranged for vertical movement in the roadway, a housing for said inverted channel bar and means for normally maintaining said channel bar floating slightly above the surface of said roadway, consisting of vertical standards arranged at each side of the road, bell-crank-levers pivoted to said standards, links conecting one arm of said bell-.cranklever with said channel bar and a counterweight on the other arm of said bell-cranklever.

4. A danger signal comprising signaling means, means for actuating said signaling means adapted to be operated by the vehicle, consisting of an inverted channel bar arranged for vertical movement in theroadway, a housing for said inverted channel bar and means for normally maintaining said channel bar floating slightly above the surface of said roadway, consisting of vertical standards arranged at each side of the road,

bell-crank-levers pivoted to said standards, links connecting one arm of said bell-cranklever with said channel bar, a counterweight on the other arm of said bell-crank-lever,

and means for arresting the downward vertical movement of the channel bar when its top surface lies in the same plane as the surface of the roadway. v

5. A danger signal comprising signaling means, means for actuating said signaling means adapted to be operated by the vehicle consisting of an inverted channel bar arranged for vertical movement in the roadway, a housing for said `inverted channel bar, and means for normally maintaining said ch'annel bar floating slightly above the surface of said roadway, including a standard' and counterweighting means mounted on said standard and connected with said channel bar above the surface of the roadway,

all' as and for the'purposesset forth( 6. A danger signal comprising signaling means, means for actuating said signaling means consisting of a vertically movable floating platform and means for normally maintaining said floating platform slightly above the level of the surface of the roadway consisting of a vertical standard, a rock shaft journaled in said standard, a bellcrank fixed to said rock shaft, a link connecting one arm of `said bell-crank with said platform and a counterweight secured to the other arm of said bell-crank.

PERoY M; FELTHAM. 

